NZB Airfreight Makes New Plymouth a Stepping Stone to the Jericho

Media Release - Thursday September 14

Warrnambool’s Jericho Cup (4600m) has quickly become a hugely popular target every December for some of the toughest Australasian-bred stayers, and NZB Airfreight is once again giving Kiwi trainers two golden tickets into the A$300,000 feature this December.

Saturday’s $40,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth is the first of two qualifying races to be staged in New Zealand this spring. The second will be the $50,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton on October 28.

Bastida won the Jericho Cup last year.

The winner of each qualifying race receives a guaranteed start in the Jericho Cup. As sponsors, NZB Airfreight will offer a $5,000 equine airfreight credit for the winner of each qualifying race, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup.

Inaugurated in 2018, the A$300,000 Jericho Cup is open to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses only, commemorating the light horse involvement in World War I and run on the fourth Sunday after the Group One Melbourne Cup (3200m). The original Jericho Cup was run in 1918 over three miles through desert sands. Its 100th anniversary was marked with the introduction of the modern Jericho Cup five years ago.

The New Zealand influence on the Jericho Cup has quickly taken hold, with the first four winners all bred on this side of the Tasman – High Mode (NZ) (Redwood), Ablaze (NZ) (Raise the Flag), Count Zero (NZ) (Zed) and Bastida (NZ) (Pierro).

Advertisement

There has not yet been a Kiwi-trained winner, with COVID-19 preventing New Zealand involvement in both 2020 and 2021. But Kevin Myers went close last year with Botti (NZ) (Jakkalberry), who was runner-up behind Bastida.

Saturday’s Jericho qualifier at New Plymouth has attracted a full field of 20, including the Myers-trained Mondorani (NZ) (Burgundy), who has won five races and more than $265,000 in stakes. His biggest win came in the Group Three New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November of 2021.

The NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho will be run as Race 7 at New Plymouth on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 4.37pm.

Advertisment

More Reading...

Space Rider Wins G3 Manfred Stakes – Stakes Double for Zoustar

Good looking Zoustar colt Space Rider has always shown glimpses of serious talent and kicked off his autumn campaign with a first up win in the $200,000 Group III Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

First NH G1 Winner Ghaiyyath – Opera Ballo Wins Jebel Hatta

2020 European Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath (IRE) got his first Group I winner in Australia last spring in Victoria Derby hero Observer and had his second overnight when Opera Ballo took the G1 Jebel Hatta (1m1f), while the other G1 on the card at Meydan also had a winner of serious interest for a different reason.

Well Written Wins 3YO Karaka Million for Yulong by Daylight

For those looking for a succinct summary of the result in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie, the answer was very simple – Well Written first, daylight second.

Belle Cheval Wins G3 Almanzor Trophy - Half-Brother for K1

NZB Kiwi slot holder The King’s Men had massive grins on their faces following Belle Cheval’s victory in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

People at Karaka

The 100th New Zealand National Yearling Sale kicks off on Sunday at Karaka and Maree McEwan has been out talking to some optimistic vendors and looking for their highlights.

Aussie Sprinter Jigsaw Wins G1 Sistema Railway

Expat Kiwi jockey Logan Bates returned home to record his biggest moment in racing when scoring his first elite-level success aboard Manhattan Rain gelding Jigsaw in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Kinnaird Looking to Extend Te Akau Dominance

The Karaka Millions twilight meeting is always a key focus for Te Akau Racing, and they are set to have another strong hand in this year’s edition.

Sandpaper Gives Baker and Rawiller First Carrington Stakes

With neither trainer Bjorn Baker or jockey Nash Rawiller having previously won the Listed ATC Carrington Stakes (1400m) in the past, both added the race to their records as Darby Racing’s Snitzel gelding Sandpaper showed plenty of determination, leading throughout to record his third black type victory.

Way To The Stars Secures Second Stakes Victory

Scratched from Friday night’s Listed Goldmarket at the Gold Coast, trainer Matthew Smth made the right decision, sending his 7yo Reward For Effort gelding Way To The Stars down to Victoria for the Listed MRC W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m).

Kiwi Bred Anemacore Strikes in Listed Sunshine Coast Cup

Letham Stud stallion Unusual Suspect was credited with his second stakes winner when Anemacore lived up to his long-held potential and pre-race favouritism with victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 Listed Coastline BMW Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m).